Device to train dogs



Nbv. 13,. 1962? L., R. CHAPMAN? DEVICE 110' TRAINS Does:

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filedi March 116, I961? FIG.\.

INVENTOR. LINWOOD R. CHAPMAN Nov. 13, 1962 L. R. CHAPMAN 3,063,415

DEVICE TO TRAIN DOGS Filed March 16. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl 6. 3 Wm" n3 i2| ,l23

U J lol "9 g? I09 "5/ A23 '03 INVENTOR. LINWOOD R. CHAPMAN L. R. CHAPMAN DEVICE TO TRAIN DOGS Nov. 13, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 16, 1961 FIG.6.

INVENTOR.

LINWOOD R. CHAPMAN United States This invention relates to a device to train dogs to point and retrieve.

The general object of the invention is to simulate those ixpgriences that the dog will experience in hunting game This general object is achieved by a portable self-contained device wherein movement of the hand lever controls in sequence the scent of the game bird, the exit of the decoy simulating the game bird, and the simulated act of the hunter firing at same.

In the training of the dog to point and retrieve, the actions and reactions of the dog to various stimuli cannot always be predicted.

Accordingly, another object of the invention is the provision of an electrical shock to train the charging dog not to charge the game bird.

Another object of the invention is to provide to the senses of the dog a flurry of activity in the exit of the simulated game bird.

A further object of the invention is to hold noise to a minimum in the controlled sequential operation of the device.

A still further object of the invention is to allow the city dweller to train his dog in the city for field use.

Further objects of the invention should be appreciated from the detailed specification in conjunction with the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to similar parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device partly in section;

FIG. 4 is a wiring diagram of the electrical elements associated with the device;

FIG. 5 is a side view, partly in section, of the decoy mounted on the missile;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66, FIG. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, where applicable, shows an elongated casing 1, bottom wall 3, longitudinal side walls 5 and 7, front wall 9, near wall 11. Top cover 13 is mounted on longitudinal side wall 7 by means of hinges 15.

Secured to top cover 13 is the discharge casing for the decoy mounted on the missile to be fired. This discharge casing has longitudinal side walls 17 and 19 secured to top cover 13, thereby providing an unrestricted discharge aperture 21 for discharge of the missile. Cover 23 is mounted on top cover 13 by means of hinges 25. Knob 27 is provided for manipulation of the cover 23 and suitable friction latch 29 is provided for retaining cover 23 in closed position. The casing 1 is raised above the ground by means of two longitudinal strips 31 secured to the underside of bottom wall 3.

Interior of the casing is a gas gun 33 mounted by gun support 35. Two upstanding members 37 of gun support 35 along with a transverse hole provided in the grip 39 of the gas gun 33 together with a nut and bolt 41 allows adjustable elevation of the gas gun 33. It should therefore be appreciated that the trajectory of the fired missile device on the line 22,

' may be controlled.

Upstanding member 43 fixed to the gun support 35 pivotally mounts pivotable member 45 at 47. Member 45 carries a transversely mounted longitudinal roller 49 for abutment with an actuation of trigger 51.

Exterior of the casing is a hand lever 53 pivotally BfifiBAifi Patented Nov. 13., 1962 ice mounted at 54 to longitudinal side wall 5. Tab 55 depends transversely from the bottom portion of hand lever 53.

Two eye hooks (not fully shown) extend through an aperture in the front wall 9 and are secured by nuts 59 to tab 55.

Extending from one of the eye hooks 57 is a cord or other suitable flexible cable 61 secured at the other end to the upstanding shank 63 of a spring biased catch 65 fixed to the rear Wall 11.

Reciprocably mounted and retained within two longitudinal guides 67 fixed to rear wall 11 is a rectangular shaped trap door 69. Secured to bottom portion of trap door 69 is a rivet 71 for engagement by a portion of the spring biased catch 65, when trap door 69 is in its retained position as shown in the drawings-which likewise shows the discharge aperture 21 to be closed.

Upon sequential actuation of the hand lever 53, the trap door 69 drops upon cushioning member 73 of rubber or other suitable material provided and arranged at the bottom of and between the guides 67.

A handle 75 is secured to the guides 67 is order to assist in the carrying and placement of the device.

Reciprocably mounted and retained without two longitudinal guides 77 fixed to front wall 9 is a rectangular shaped shutter 79 with its rivet 81. Not shown, but which form a part of this invention are the members corresponding to spring biased catch 65 and its shank 63 utilized to control the retention and release of trap door 69, similarly situated with respect to the shutter 79 and its rivet 31 co-operate to control the retention and release of the shutter 79.

A cushioning member 83 of rubber or other suitable material is provided at the bottom of and between the guides 77.

A grille 85 covers the opening formed in the lower half of the front wall 9. It should be appreciated that release of the shutter 79 will close this grilled opening provided in the lower half of front wall 9.

Pivotal movement of the pivotable member 45 is controlled by a cord or other suitable flexible cable 91 secured at one end to one of the eye hooks 57 and at the other end to the lower portion of the pivotable member 45 at 93.

It should be appreciated that hand lever 53 is held in an inoperative position by action of the spring 95 secured at one end at 93 and at the other end at 97 to the support member 99 for fan 101, thereby biasing pivotable member 45 in a counter-clockwise direction.

Diagrammatically shown in FIG. 4 is the wiring for the two circuits utilized.

Fan 101 is connected to the battery 103 and has two switches in series therewith. A knife switch 105 and a manual control switch 107. A broken away portion of the protective flap 106 for the knife switch 105 is shown. It should be appreciated that forward movement of hand lever 53 will cause tab 55 to engage the arm of the knife switch 105, thereby opening the fan circuit.

The other circuit utilized for the contact member 109 employs a ground 111 and a secondary coil 113 in the secondary circuit 115; and a manual control switch 117, interrupter 119 and primary coil 121 in the primary circuit 123.

Secured at 125 is a cord or other suitable flexible cable 127 extending and suitably secured to the trigger 129 of blank firing gun 131. The blank firing gun 131 is held in place relative to the longitudinal side wall 5 by inserting the barrel 132 within the ring 133 suitably fixed to the longitudinal side wall 5 and then emplacing the grip 135 within the U-shaped retainer 137 suitably fixed to the longitudinal side wall 5.

Emplaced removably within the left front portion of the casing is a wire cage 139 having a suitable closing cover.

With reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 of the drawings a missile 141 is shown. No patentable significance is claimed as to this missile 141, per se.

Missile 141 is placed within a-protective housing 143, made preferably of one-inch rubber hosing. At one end of the protective housing 143, two longitudinal cuts are made to form a depending portion 145, thereby allowing the missile to be loaded in the gas gun 33 with the protective housing 143 clearing the trigger housing.

Secured by two flat head cap screws 147 within the other end of the protective housing 143 is member 149. A cap screw 151 is inserted within the bored hole in member 149 and screwed into the female threaded end of missile 141.

Arranged between this end of missile 141 and member 149 is a washer 153 and spring 155.

The functions of spring 155 is that of impact assist in the forward motion of the missile 141 upon firing of the gas gun 33 and is that of allowing compensatory play with the protective housing 143 permitting leveling of the protective housing 143 with respect to the missile 141.

Decoy 157 is mounted upon the mid-portion of protective housing 143 by means of two fiat head cap screws 1'59 and nuts 161 as shown.

In operation of the device the gas gun 33 is loaded and the missile carrying decoy emplaced. A live pheasant or quail, or commercial game bird scent applied to a suitable rag, is placed within the cage 139. The blank firing gun 131 is loaded. Knife switch 105 and manual control switch 107 are closed thereby turning the fan 101 on blowing the scent forward through the unshuttered grille 85. Trap door 69 is closed and cover 23 is closed. The device is now ready for the approach of the dog.

Depending upon the proclivity of the dog to charge, the contact member may be electrified by closing the manual control switch 117, thereby providing an electrical shock to the dog upon contact with contact member 109.

Upon the approach and point of the dog, the trainer moves hand lever 53 forward the first sequential step allowing the trap door 69 to noiselessly drop, the second sequential step forward of the hand lever 53 the fan 131 is turned off by engagement of tab 55 with the arm of the knife switch 105 thereby shutting 011 the fan 1111 killing the blown scent. Also the shutter 79 is released to drop noiselessly further killing the scent.

In the third sequential step on the forward movement of the hand lever 53, the gas gun 33 is fired thereby projecting the missile carrying decoy outward and upward to the extent governed by the preset trajectory.

In the fourth sequential step of the forward movement of the hand lever 53 the blank gun 131 is fired.

Depending upon the intelligence and proclivity of the dog, cover 23 may be left open or closed throughout the sequences of operation. It should be appreciated that if cover 23 is left open, a flurry of movement to the senses of the dog will arise in the exit of the decoy during the third sequential step.

It should be further appreciated that the protective housing 143 provided for the missile 141 will prevent damage to the missile upon impact, especially with a rock.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device to train hunting dogs to point and retrieve, comprising the combination of a portable enclosure, scent propagating means in said enclosure, simulated game bird means for simulation thereof releasably contained in said enclosure, game bird release means, firing means for simulation thereof, control means on said device, said control means operatively associated with and actuating sequentially said scent propagating means, said game bird release means and said firing means for simulation thereof.

2. The subject matter as claimed in claim 1 wherein 4 shutter means is further provided to aid in terminating the scent propagated by said scent propagating means, and said shutter means is sequentially actuated by said control means.

3. The subject matter as claimed in claim 1, wherein animal repulsion means is provided to discourage the dog from charging said portable enclosure upon propagation of the scent by said scent propagating means.

4. The subject matter as claimed in claim 1, wherein means is provided to establish simulation. of flight of said simulated game bird means during the period of release to exit thereof.

5. The subject matter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scent propagating means comprises a cage in said portable enclosure for retention of live or commercial scent and a fan for blowing said scent toward the dog.

6. The subject matter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said simulated game bird means comprises a missile carrying a decoy.

7. The subject matter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said game bird release means comprises a gas gun.

8. The subject matter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said simulated game bird means comprises a missile carrying a decoy, said game bird release means comprises a gas gun for loading of said missile and firing of same and said gas gun is adjustably secured to said portable enclosure to vary the trajectory of the fired missile carrying decoy.

9. The subject matter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said firing means comprises a blank firing gun mounted on said portable enclosure.

10. The subject matter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a hand lever.

11. The subject matter as claimed in claim 3, wherein said animal repulsion means comprises a shock producing electrified contact member on said portable enclosure.

12. The subject matter as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means provided to establish simulation of fiight of said simulated game bird means during the period of release to exit thereof comprises a cover on said portable enclosure capable of being opened to thereby provide a view to the dog of the exit of said game bird means from said portable enclosure.

13. The subject matter as claimed in claim 6, wherein said missile is covered with a protective housing of impact absorbing material to prevent damage to said missile upon impact after said missile is fired and means for securing said protective housing to said missile.

14. The subject matter as claimed in claim 13, wherein said means for securing said protective housing to said missile comprises a member secured to said protective housing and an element slidably engaged with said member and removably secured to said missile.

15. The subject matter as claimed in claim 14, wherein impact assist means is provided with said protective housing and said missile to assist in the forward motion of the fired missile and for compensatory play of said protective housing with respect to said missile, permitting the leveling of said protective housing with respect to said missile.

16. The subject matter as claimed in claim 15, wherein said impact assist means comprises a washer and spring arranged on said element intermediate the end of said element and said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 654,947 Champlin July 31, 1900 2,579,178 Dierking Dec. 18, 1951 2,851,991 Rinck Sept. 16, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES The Jackson- Bird-Dog Trainer, Field & Stream, September 1948. 

